Two Waymo robotaxis made minor contact while trying to turn around on a steep, dead-end San Francisco street, leaving a third Waymo stopped behind them and temporarily trapping a resident’s car. The event was reported at Kearny and Vallejo streets in North Beach on December 6, 2025—but the available evidence supports calling it a low-speed fender-bender and traffic blockage, not a major three-vehicle crash.
Two Waymo robotaxis made minor contact while trying to turn around on a steep, dead-end San Francisco street, leaving a third Waymo stopped behind them and temporarily trapping a resident’s car. The incident was reported at Kearny and Vallejo streets in the North Beach neighborhood on December 6, 2025.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The available reporting describes a low-speed fender-bender—not a major crash. The two vehicles that touched were reportedly unoccupied, and a later video showed a Waymo service worker opening one vehicle’s door before it backed away under its own power. No public report reviewed for this article provides a repair estimate, telemetry, fleet numbers, or a formal damage assessment.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat happened on the North Beach street
According to accounts from the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sacramento Bee, two Waymos were attempting multi-point turns near the end of a steep residential street. Their positions became awkward, with the vehicles partly angled across the roadway. Their fenders appeared to touch as they maneuvered.
#1 Best Overall
- Multipurpose Fit: Repairs at least 98% of the plastics on the market. Suitable for repairing: bumper, dashboard, lamp holder, plastic ring, radiator, spoiler, handles, headlights, plastic wings, car and motorcycle plastic device, etc
- Rapid Heating: Plastic Welding Kit select the correct staples, insert the brass holder, press the power button, 1-2 seconds to heat quickly, let the staple melt slowly into the plastic parts, prevent the staple from going through the plastic board. Equipped with a light on the front of our plastic welding machine, the operation is more convenient and safer
- Reliable Quality: Stainless steel staple will not rust and 6 types of staples to meet your different needs. The wavy staple design maximizes the load. Restore your broken parts, prolong its service life. Staple weld into the plastics quick and easily. Strong for shock and twist after repairing
- Easy Operation: Ergonomic design, suitable for palm. The rubber handle has a comfortable grip and will not feel tired for a long time holding. Quick and easy operation
- Portable Welder: Plastic Repair Welder Kit, Bumper Kayak Repair Kit will come with plastic welder, pliers, carry case, 150X 0.6mm flat staples, 150X 0.8mm flat staples, 200X 0.6mm wave staples, 300X 0.8mm wave staples, 100X 0.6mm inside corner staples, 100X 0.8mm outside corner staples
A third Waymo approached downhill. Rather than drive through the obstruction, it stopped behind the first two vehicles. That created a T-shaped blockage: the first two vehicles occupied the turning area, while the third sat across the remaining approach. A resident who had just pulled out of a garage was also unable to get through.
Later footage showed a Waymo employee or service worker opening the door of the sideways-facing vehicle. The vehicle then reversed under its own power, allowing the other Waymo to continue uphill and clearing the street.
VICE described the vehicles as unoccupied and characterized the contact as a gentle bumper-to-bumper fender bender. However, the public accounts do not establish whether the vehicles suffered damage beyond possible cosmetic contact. They also do not provide an independently verified injury determination.
Recommended Free Tools
Why the third Waymo stopped
The third vehicle was involved in the traffic blockage, but the available reporting does not say that it collided with either of the other Waymos. Its decision to stop is consistent with Waymo’s published rider guidance, which says its vehicles may pull over or stop in the road when that is judged to be the safest option.
That behavior can look strange to a human driver who might attempt to squeeze past or make a more aggressive maneuver. But a vehicle that cannot establish a safe path around a blockage may choose to wait rather than risk contact with another vehicle, a wall, a parked car, a pedestrian, or a cyclist.
In this case, the conservative stop also contributed to the gridlock. The result illustrates an important distinction in autonomous-driving incidents: avoiding a collision is only one part of driving. The vehicle must also resolve what to do when several road users are simultaneously making uncertain movements in a confined space.
Rank #2
- Plasticbonder: Is A Quick-Set, 2 Part, Urethane Adhesive System That Provides Strong, Lasting Repairs And Works On Thermoset, Carbon Fiber Composites, Thermoplastics, Coated Metals, Concrete & More.
- Count On Us: For More Than 40 Years, Our Products Have Earned A Loyal Following From People Who Take Pride In Their Work. With Each Product We Innovate, We Continue To Provide The World'S Strongest Bond For Your Projects.
- Simple To Use: J-B Plasticbonder Has A 1:1 Mixing Ratio, Sets In 15 Minutes And Can Be Sanded After 30 Minutes. With A Tensile Strength Of 3770 Psi, Plasticbonder Cures To A Hard, Permanent Bond.
- Versatile And Dependable: Perfect For Indoor Or Outdoor Use, Epoxy & Adhesives, Plastic, Composite, Pvc, And More. Plastic Bonder Makes A Great Gap Filler And Dries Black In Color.
This was not necessarily a software “failure” in the broadest sense
The videos make the vehicles appear unable to negotiate around one another, but they do not reveal the software’s internal decisions. It would be inaccurate to claim that the cars were literally “confused,” “panicking,” or unaware of their surroundings.
The observable facts are narrower:
- Two Waymos attempted multi-point turns on a steep, constrained street.
- The vehicles made what Waymo described as minor contact.
- A third Waymo stopped after detecting that the roadway was blocked.
- A service worker helped clear the situation.
Waymo told the Chronicle and the Bee that the two vehicles made minor contact while attempting the turns. The company also said its autonomous vehicles are still learning to navigate complicated or congested roads. That explanation is compatible with a difficult multi-vehicle interaction, but it is not a case-specific technical diagnosis. Without sensor records, maps, planning logs, or a regulator’s investigation, outsiders cannot determine exactly why the vehicles selected those paths or why the maneuver took as long as it did.
How serious was the incident?
Based on the public descriptions, the event appears to have been a minor, low-speed contact incident and temporary traffic obstruction. It should not be described as a serious crash or as proof that three Waymos collided.
The more precise description is: two Waymo vehicles made minor contact while turning, and a third Waymo stopped behind them, helping create a blockage.
The reviewed coverage does not identify:
- the vehicles’ fleet numbers or exact models;
- repair costs or the extent of any damage;
- the vehicles’ sensor, mapping, or telemetry data;
- whether police, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the California Public Utilities Commission, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a report specific to the event;
- an official determination about injuries.
That absence of information does not prove that no report exists. It means only that no case-specific report from those agencies or from Waymo was located in the research reviewed for this account.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Why an unusual dead-end street is a meaningful test
Most discussion of autonomous-vehicle safety focuses on high-speed hazards: detecting a pedestrian, braking for a vehicle, or avoiding a collision at an intersection. The North Beach incident highlights a different challenge—low-speed negotiation in an unusual urban environment.
Rank #3
- Complete package: The kit includes 4 black bumper quick release tabs, 4 stainless steel bolts, 4 nuts, 4 washers, and 12 customized NBR O-rings (10 for replacement use)
- High-Quality Materials: Made from premium materials, this bumper quick release is built to last. The durable bands holder and latch provide a strong and reliable fix, ensuring your bumpers stay in place during all driving conditions
- Powerful Features:Our bumper quick release offers a practical solution for quick and easy bumper removal and reattachment. Ideal for repairs, maintenance, or customization, this product ensures your bumpers are securely fixed yet easily accessible.
- Quick Installtion: First remove the bumper fasteners and O-rings and place the bumper where you want it. Then mark the location of the desired holes on the fender. Considering the flexibility of the O-rings, the spacing can be shortened slightly to achieve a tight symmetry.The quick release bumper fastener kit comes with a complete set of supporting parts that will be handy during your installation and removal process
- Universal Fit: This bumper quick release is compatible with most car models, including JDM cars and other popular brands. Whether you need it for the front bumper or any other part, this product offers a versatile and effective solution
A steep dead-end street can combine several complications:
- limited room for turning;
- tight clearances near curbs, parked vehicles, buildings, and other obstacles;
- vehicles approaching from different directions;
- uncertainty about which vehicle should move first;
- the need to reverse or perform several linked maneuvers rather than follow a simple forward route.
When one autonomous vehicle stops, another may need to predict whether it will remain stopped, move forward, reverse, or yield. Three vehicles can create a feedback loop in which each one’s cautious behavior reduces the options available to the others. That is a reasonable interpretation of the scene, not a confirmed explanation of Waymo’s software.
What Waymo’s safety information does—and does not—tell us
Waymo’s published safety material says its safety-impact analysis considers crashes involving any person in the crash sequence, including people outside the Waymo vehicle. It also distinguishes outcomes such as serious injury, airbag deployment, and reported injury, while acknowledging that autonomous vehicles cannot prevent every collision.
Those definitions are useful when evaluating the company’s broader safety claims. They do not classify or analyze the Kearny-and-Vallejo event specifically. The public information reviewed here does not say how Waymo internally categorized the minor contact, whether either vehicle required service, or whether the incident affected the vehicles’ availability.
Waymo’s general rider guidance also says the company dispatches roadside assistance after detected collisions. That policy could help explain why a vehicle remains stationary while assistance is arranged, but it should not be treated as a confirmed account of every action taken in this particular case. The footage indicates that a service worker helped clear the vehicles; it does not provide a complete operational timeline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Context around Waymo’s San Francisco operations
The incident arrived during heightened scrutiny of Waymo’s San Francisco service. The Chronicle referenced other recent controversies involving animal collisions, an illegal-U-turn traffic stop, and questions about interactions with stopped school buses.
Rank #4
- Universal fit kit - Great assortment push retainer kit with 12 popular size, fitting for door trim, radiator shield yoke, fender, bumper and splash shield retainer’s replacement for Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda and more..Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ear
- Save time and money - You can find 240PCS automotive push type retainer kit in the box and no need to go to auto parts store to look for different fasteners. You can remove the old clips using free fastener remover.
- High quality - High quality material with heavy-duty construction for durability, this push type retainers set would not break or crack easily during use.
- Most common sizes - Don not worry about lost or damaged body fasteners. All the necessary retainers for exact replacement of old and broken retainer.
- Easy storage - Comes with a plastic box with 12 compartments for organized storage. Compact size, convenient to store or carry with in your car.
Those events help explain why a video of three Waymos blocking a narrow street attracted attention. They are not, by themselves, evidence that this minor-contact incident was part of a single recurring failure mode. Each event would require its own facts, records, and safety analysis.
The most accurate takeaway
The viral video shows a conspicuous operational problem, but not the severe autonomous-vehicle crash that some headlines might imply. Two unoccupied Waymos appear to have touched while trying to turn around on a steep dead-end street. A third Waymo stopped behind them rather than passing through the obstruction. A service worker then helped one vehicle reverse away and reopen the road.
That is still a relevant deployment issue. A driverless system has to handle not only obvious hazards but also awkward, low-speed interactions among multiple autonomous vehicles in places that leave little room for error. The incident shows that conservative behavior can prevent a more serious collision while still producing a frustrating traffic jam. It does not, without additional technical or regulatory evidence, establish widespread system failure, serious damage, or injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Waymo incident happen?
The available reports place the incident at Kearny and Vallejo streets in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood on December 6, 2025. The street was described as steep and effectively dead-ended in the area where the vehicles were attempting to turn.
How serious was the Waymo crash?
Waymo reportedly characterized the contact between the first two vehicles as minor. Public reporting does not provide a repair estimate, formal damage assessment, or evidence that the third Waymo collided with either vehicle.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Why did the third Waymo stop instead of going around?
The third Waymo stopped after detecting that the roadway was blocked. That may have been a cautious safety decision, but it also meant the vehicle could not pass the first two and contributed to the temporary traffic obstruction.
Were there passengers or injuries?
The strongest available reporting says the two vehicles that touched were unoccupied. The reviewed public accounts do not independently establish a complete injury finding for everyone in or near the incident, so it is best not to make a broader claim about injuries.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Two Waymo robotaxis reportedly made minor contact while attempting a multi-point turn on San Francisco’s Kearny Street near Vallejo Street. A third Waymo stopped behind them and became part of the resulting blockage, but it was not reported to have collided. The public evidence supports describing this as a minor contact incident and traffic obstruction—not a major three-vehicle crash.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
